“One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.” – Psalm 27:4
Were you in church on Sunday? Or maybe we should ask a bigger question; how important is it to be in church on Sunday? In America, church is simply one of the many things we do throughout the week. Sometimes it is a priority and sometimes it isn’t, depending on what else we have scheduled on any particular weekend. Many times, almost anything can become a reason for missing church. When I say “church,” I am talking about gathering together with Christian brothers and sisters in order to worship God, enjoy his presence, draw close to him, and encourage one another. And I believe, under this definition, church should be our reason for missing everything else.
In Psalm 27 David says that his one and only heart’s desire is to come into the house of the Lord and worship him. David longed to dwell in the temple of the Lord. There he found joy, peace, comfort, and protection. It was in this holy place that David found everything he needed for life. Quite the opposite of coming into the house of the Lord as one more task for the week, David saw this opportunity as the one and only thing that could sustain him from day to day. Is this our view of church? Do we desire to dwell in the presence of God with God’s people above all other activities? If you find yourself struggling to make it through all the things you have on your schedule, maybe it’s time to rearrange that schedule. I encourage you to read through Psalm 27 this week and I pray that God would fill you with a desire to dwell in his house.
Father forgive us when we make time with You and Your people into one more appointment on our schedule. Help us to understand that our time with You and with one another is not something that we do during the week, but it is what strengthens us for the week. Gather us together in Your presence and for the Glory of Your Name.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Shane Cannon
